If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I love the sea and regularly post a story about my closest beach and coastal walk, sharing it’s beauty in all kinds of weather. So it can be no surprise that the #2021_creativegrowth June theme, was ‘Sea’.
In early June, I joined in with a free series of classes called ‘Find your Joy Starter’ run by Louise Fletcher @louisefletcher_art. It’s a pre-course taster to unlock creativity and it was fantastic. I so recommend you join in the next time she offers it. This little piece below came out of an exercise Louise come up with to help loosen up and encourage a free flowing style.
Artists have to work hard promoting their workshops and courses by supplementing with free tasters, but it is a wonderful way to drum up enrolments and I heartily support their efforts. Artists like Louise Fletcher and Nicholas Wilton provide insights into their processes and principles and help you by explaining their lenses into creating art, which is so enlightening. I hugely appreciate them for so generously sharing their knowledge for free. Joining these courses is an obligation-free way of trying something new and learning new skills and techniques. You should try some.
I see that Marilou Cadiz Marshall @mariloucadizmarshall is running a weekend retreat on 10, 11 July if you are interested to learn about her art techniques creating contemporary botanically themed art and in preparation for a year long course.
Some of my favourites from the June ‘sea’ theme include these works.
This Emerson quote decorated in a joyful rustic way by Laura @laurariverowilson is bright and cheerful.
Ann’s @annld60 beautifully photographed peonies are like sea froth.
A few post-lockdown wee holidays inspired some creative interpretations too.
Sarah @sarah_dye_grace visited the Baltic Sea coast and curated her foraged and collected items in memory of her trip into a handmade box and a book - momentos to keep forever.
My favourite colours popped up in Annie’s @anniescraftroom interpretation of a seaside snap taken on a recent holiday
And a holiday in France inspired Japan-based Akiko @akikojunistudio to paint tiny seaside vignettes.
Thank you for participating and keep up the creative work. I enjoy checking in on the #2021_creativegrowth tag and seeing what pops up.
Onto July’s theme.
This month’s theme is something everyone will identify with and that many of us love. You guessed it. That topic is ‘Food’.
I gave up cooking (!) as my 2021 New Year's resolution and so far, my lack of cooking isn’t going too badly in my household. It doesn’t mean I don’t cook, it just means I cook a lot less and the interesting thing is that when it’s each of our turn to cook, we make more of an effort, which makes the food more appetising. My cooking less makes everyone more creative :)
(Now doesn’t that just fit right in with the #2021_creativegrowth challenge! Who says it has to only be art ? And anyway, we’re all a little more rebellious these days and pushing out the challenge guidelines is actually ok!)
So what’s your plan for this month’s food theme?
This quote below caught my eye in the #2021_creativegrowth tag this month and was posted by Marilou @mariloucadizmarshall.
So become creative and choose to pursue the activity mindfully - practice and play continuously and you’ll surprise yourself with what you can do. Half the year is over already, but there’s still time to start a creative habit. So, go on, join us!
Happy arting.
Until next time.
Claudia x
